Sword or Plowshare?

 

Beating Sword into Plowshare Statue at the U.N.

“…beat your swords into plowshares…Nation will not take up sword against nation…”

This particular phrase is found in Isaiah 2:4 and Micah 4:3. What does it mean and how does it relate to us?

We know that swords are tools of warfare, while plowshares are tools used for preparing the ground for planting; a plowshare actually cuts loose the hard top layer of the soil.

Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians tells us that we are to “Take… the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God” to defend ourselves against our spiritual enemy (6:17).

So, from what we now know, it’s clear to see that we are not to use the Word of God as a weapon of warfare against each other but rather we are to take God’s Word and use it to soften the hearts of our fellowmen – to cut away the hardness of their hearts in order for it to yield – so that the Word may be planted.

When we use the Word as an instrument of condemnation, as we so often do, we create conflict in the hearts of others, and they remain conscious of their sin.

When we use the Word as an instrument of grace, we bring a sense of community and peace in the hearts of others and Jesus Christ is revealed, for they begin to “…walk in the light of the Lord” (ref. Isaiah 2:5).

Are you using the Word of God as Sword or Plowshare?

Beloved, God wants us all to “pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another” (Romans 14:19), in so doing God’s truth is illuminated in our hearts.

Amen †

 

Shelley Johnson “Sword or Plowshare?” © 2014 (6-May-14) revisited September 6, 2026

Jesus creates the sense of need

 

Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again. But whoever drinks the water I will give him will never be thirsty again. For my gift will become a spring in the man himself, welling up into eternal life.” – John 4:13-14 (Phillips)

Recently, a friend of mine took up the challenge to drink one gallon of water a day for thirty days. That’s a lot of water, but I’m sure that on day thirty-one she still became thirsty. No matter how much water you drink – pipe borne, bottled, sparkling, or filtered – you “will be thirsty again”.

That’s what Jesus impressed upon the woman at Jacob’s well. All the water that man can give you, from the deepest dug well, you’ll be thirsty again and again but He had water to give that would “become a spring” in her, continually bubbling like a flowing fountain. She’d never be thirsty again.

Intrigued, the woman knew that was the water she wanted, that was the water she needed. Jesus had created in her the sense of need.

The woman said, “Sir, give me this water, so that I may stop being thirsty—and not have to come here to draw water anymore!” – John 4:15 (Phillips)

Oh, what a turn of events! She was now asking Him for water – Jacob gave the well through long and hard labour (John 4:12) but drinking from it, one will be thirsty again. This is not the water that Jesus offers. His water is no ordinary water; Jesus has a hidden source of spiritual water which He wants to give to you.

This was now Jesus’ third statement, and still the woman hadn’t seen the spiritual meaning in what Jesus was saying to her. Like the ones on the Emmaus Road (see Luke 24:13-35), she too was slow to recognize that she was in the midst of a divine encounter, but that was about to change.

The beginning of the Samaritan woman’s transformation and ours starts with the realization that we are desperately in need of something so much greater than what our long and hard labour can accomplish.

Beloved, when we realize that nothing and no-one but Jesus can satisfy that sense of need in us, is when we realize our need for Jesus and cry out, “give me that water!” (John 4:15 GNT).

 

Amen †

 

Shelley Johnson “Jesus creates the sense of need” © 2017 (March 21, 2017) revisited September 5, 2026

Quenching Your Spiritual Dehydration

 

Are you so dehydrated that even your bones feel dried up? This is no normal dry spell where a drink of cold water quenches your thirst. You’ve tried everything but nothing you do is satisfying this dryness that you’re feeling. That’s because your thirst is not physical but spiritual.

You’re in a spiritual drought, in the middle of a dry-bones valley with no hope of quenching your spiritual dehydration.

“…the middle of a valley; it was full of bones…and they were very dry.” (Ezekiel 37:1, 2 NRSVUE)

Right now, even though all you see around you is desert, know that there is hope, for God has provided a source of full and everlasting satisfaction for your spiritual dehydration.

El Yeso Reservoir Chile

Only God can make springs gush forth in the valleys (Psalm 104:10); only God can turn a desert into pools of water, a parched land into springs of water (Psalm 107:35 NRSVUE) and to anyone who is thirsty, it is only God who gives water as a gift from the spring of the water of life (Revelation 21:6).

This God-given spring is a spring that never runs dry. This never-ending flow of rehydration is available to whosoever believes in His Son Jesus Christ.

Jesus Himself tells us of this wonderful thirst-quenching spring of water when He said, “…those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life.” (John 4:14 NRSVUE).

Also, in John 7:37-39 we read, “…Jesus…cried out, Let anyone who is thirsty come to Me, and let the one who believes in Me drink. As the scripture has said, ‘Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water.’ Now He said this about the Spirit, which believers in him were to receive…” (NRSVUE)

This precious water is the Holy Spirit promised to anyone who believes. The indwelling Spirit of God is the source of this spring of everlasting satisfaction. Only He can quench your spiritual dehydration.

Beloved, how wonderful it is to have this bubbling spring of water within you that completely satisfies even to the bone.

Amen †

 

Shelley Johnson “Quenching Your Spiritual Dehydration” © 2014 (30-May-14) revisited September 4, 2026

Time to reconnect

 

Ezekiel chapter 37 speaks of a valley full of bones; these bones represent people who are spiritually lifeless. Lifeless with no useful purpose because they weren’t connected in a body. These scattered bones were very dry.

The hand of the Lord was on me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones live?”  – Ezekiel 37:1-3 (NIV)

There are 206 bones of varying shapes and sizes in an adult human body. And each of these bones is of special significance in that, connected, they make up the solid framework of the body.

The Hebrew word for “bone” is “etsem” which also bears the meaning, “substance” or “essence” – symbolic of one’s core or innermost self – that part of us which provides stability and strength.

There are times when even though we’ve gone through the process of spiritual regeneration, for one reason or another, we become spiritually parched, empty and useless, like very dry bones.

At some point along the path, we experience a disconnect where we seem to function but really have nothing to give. Our connection to God feels as if it’s broken and we’re unable to connect, even with other people, in any meaningful way.

If this happens to anyone who is serious about their spiritual journey, then they must determine to re-establish and maintain a connection to God through the Holy Spirit within.

The dry bones of Ezekiel’s vision may have, at first, spoken of hopeless death but with God there is always the hope of resurrection and restoration even if your bones are very dry. When the Lord asked Ezekiel can these bones live, Ezekiel gave a wise response.

“Sovereign Lord, you alone know.” – Ezekiel 37:3 (NIV)

Ezekiel understood that it is God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not (ref. Romans 4:17). Even though God instructs Ezekiel to prophesy to the dry bones, the power of resurrection lies with God.

The time to reconnect had come. Ezekiel was obedient to God’s direction and guidance and there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone (Ezekiel 37:7 NIV).

Reconnection happened right before Ezekiel’s eyes – bodies stood up but now all they needed was the breath of God to bring them to life. When God breathed into them, what was once dead became alive, and what was once broken was restored.

Beloved, nothing is beyond the reach of God and God is not beyond your reach. If you’re feeling disconnected from Him and others in any way, the time to reconnect is now.

Reconnection entails God’s quickening of your spirit, but you must offer yourself to Him again, allowing Him to breathe life into your life. Be obedient to His instruction, direction and guidance. If God tells you to prophesy over your dry bone circumstances, then prophesy.

Know that Ezekiel’s vision of hope is still relevant today.

Amen †

 

Shelley Johnson “Time to reconnect” © 2026 September 2, 2026

 

 

My One

 

Believers are children of God.

when the right time finally came, God sent his own Son. He came as the son of a human mother and lived under the Jewish Law, to redeem those who were under the Law, so that we might become God's children. (Galatians 4:4-5 (GNT)

And as a believer, you are to be and are even now, one with God (read John 17:20-26)

I gave them the same glory you gave me, so that they may be one, just as you and I are one: I in them and you in me, so that they may be completely one (v 22, 23 GNT)

Jesus prayed for believers to be one, not just with one another but with the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

 To show that you are his children, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who cries out, “Father, my Father” (Galatians 4:6 GNT)

Jesus, as John 10:30 records, emphasized that He and the Father are One.

Jesus is One with the Father and believers are one with Jesus, therefore you are also one with the Father.

In Jesus, believers are one as individuals and one as a whole, that is the Church as the Body of Christ.

Christ is like a single body, which has many parts; it is still one body, even though it is made up of different parts. (1 Corinthians 12:12 GNT)

Whether you understand it or not, Jesus’ oneness with the Church, His Body of believers, is a complete unity, even though the process is not yet complete.

There is one body and one Spirit, just as there is one hope to which God has called you. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism; there is one God and Father of all people, who is Lord of all, works through all, and is in all. (Ephesians 4:4-6 GNT)

Believers have a specific purpose; an important role in the bigger scheme of things.

It was he who “gave gifts to people”; he appointed some to be apostles, others to be prophets, others to be evangelists, others to be pastors and teachers. He did this to prepare all God's people for the work of Christian service, in order to build up the body of Christ. And so we shall all come together to that oneness in our faith and in our knowledge of the Son of God; we shall become mature people, reaching to the very height of Christ's full stature. (Ephesians 4:11-13 GNT)

Beloved, spiritually, you are one with God; you have joined yourself to Him (see 1 Corinthians 6:17). You are in Him and He in you, mutually my One/My one.

Too many believers don’t quite get it, there’s a disconnect from the deeper understanding of being one and the significance of this “My One” concept and its power to enrich every area of their lives is missed.

Time to reconnect.

Amen †

 

Shelley Johnson “My One” © 2026 September 1, 2026

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Makarios in Mourning

 

Yesterday, my sister’s husband, who after being married to my sister for 54 years, was more of a brother than a brother-in-law to me, died peacefully in his sleep.

Last week, one of my dearest friends lost her younger sister and just about a month ago, without any warning, my dear sweet cousin passed quietly while watching television.

Every single day people lose a loved one and I think of those who were in Nepal at the time of that devastating flood, the lives of locals and foreigners taken in a matter of minutes.

So, in light of all this I decided to revisit “Makarios in Mourning”…

 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” Matthew 5:4 (NRSV)

How can you experience Makarios in mourning?

It was December 2024, four loved ones passed: two of them, still young in their early twenties, and one, just six years old…gone.

How can I experience Makarios in that? How can a family, who is mourning the loss of three family members in an instant, be in a state of sublime happiness?

In Jesus’ day, people were experiencing loss as a way of life. Under Roman rule, oppression was the order of the day. Remember, Jesus was a real man living in a historical time. Children, in those days, seldom reached adulthood. People, men, women, and children, living under extremely harsh conditions were dying. Existing in horrific circumstances was all Jesus’ listeners knew, to mourn was their reality.

Ecclesiastes 7:2-4…

“It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for this is the end of everyone, and the living will lay it to heart. Sorrow is better than laughter, for by sadness of countenance the heart is made glad. The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.”

Drawing from this passage in Ecclesiastes, Jesus was helping His audience then and us now, to understand that “makarios” is in our compassion, it’s in our care and lovingkindness toward others, it is in our ability to weep with those who weep (Romans 12:15).

There is no “blessed” in only mourning for yourself and not having a thought for others.

“Blessed are those who mourn…”

Loss teaches us something. We learn that it’s not about what to cherish but who to cherish. We recognize that those around us matter much more than the things we possess. A lost possession can be replaced but not the people in our lives, they are irreplaceable.

Another translation says,

“You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.” (MSG)

Jesus is telling us that when we mourn, we will be comforted by the only One from whom genuine lasting comfort is provided.   

“…for they will be comforted”

“He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.” (2 Corinthians 1:4 NRSV)

We have no control over loss and suffering, and we mourn over our inability to do so but we have a God who comforts us. We can rely on Him to provide the comfort that’s needed.

Only God can turn our mourning into joy, comfort us, and give us gladness for sorrow. Then shall the young women rejoice in the dance, and the young men and the old shall be merry. (see Jeremiah 31:13) 

I will change their sadness into happiness. I will comfort my people, making them happy instead of sad.

Amen!

Amen †

Shelley Johnson “Makarios in Mourning” © 2025 (January 21, 2025) revisited September 1, 2026

 

 

 

Independence Day

 

The Trinity Hills

Today, August 31, my country is celebrating 64 years of independence. A nation gains its independence, when it is freed from outside control. That freedom from outside influences, is celebrated then, and every year thereafter, with much pomp and ceremony.

We are raised to be independent persons by our parents and by society but then, somewhere along the line, we are told that God wants us to be totally dependent on Him. Truth be told, moving from independent to dependent is easier said than done.

You see, the independence that our parents and society urged us to gain is based on becoming solely dependent on ourselves, where we completely rely on our own efforts to control and direct our own lives. So, to become completely dependent on another, even though it’s God, is difficult.

To become completely dependent on God involves reprogramming but it’s a process we must go through, for to be truly independent is to be utterly dependent on God because that is the epitome of freedom.

We have freedom now, because Christ made us free. So stand strong in that freedom. Don’t go back into slavery again. – Galatians 5:1 (ERV)

The day you surrender your will to the will of Jesus Christ is your Independence Day. That is the moment when Jesus Christ, the Saviour, sets you free from the control of outside influences. That’s the day you are set free from sin's dominion over your life.

You gain freedom in Christ; you gain Eternal Life and death no longer has its hold on you. The spiritual chains of bondage fall away from your soul, and you walk away completely liberated because, when the Son sets you free, you are truly free.

So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. – John 8:36 (NIV)

That is your ultimate celebration of independence. You can be sure there will be fireworks in heaven on that day.

Independence Day, that day when you are loosed from the old spiritual influences that have you bound. Like Lazarus, we’re bound hand and foot with graveclothes until Jesus cries out, “Loose him, and let him go!” (John 11:44).

It is really Jesus Himself who does the loosing, for He was sent by the Father to proclaim liberty to the captives, to set free those who are bound (Isaiah 61:1) but you play an important role by being willing to be set free.

Out of my distress I called on the Lord; The Lord answered me and set me free. – Psalm 118:5 (AMP)

Are you willing to be set free? Are you ready to celebrate your true Independence Day?

Happy Independence!

Amen †

Shelley Johnson “Independence Day” © 2016 revisited August 31, 2026

From where does your help come?

For too many, our first call for help is to others – from family and from friends. We seem to not remember that God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble (Psalm 46:1 NLT).

From where does your help come?

Are you one who, like the woman who had been haemorrhaging for twelve years, goes searching everywhere for help and only after all resources have been exhausted turns to the Lord? 

From where does your help come?

The ancients on pilgrimage to Jerusalem knew that help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth (Psalm 121:2 NLT).

From where does your help come?

We need to get in the habit of looking to the Lord for help first; He must be our first port of call so to speak and not our last resort.

We need to depend on the Lord; trust Him and have faith in Him and in His ability.

From where does your help come?

The Lord assures us of His help in Isaiah 41:10 (AMP), saying,

Do not fear [anything], for I am with you; Do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, be assured I will help you; I will certainly take hold of you with My righteous right hand [a hand of justice, of power, of victory, of salvation].

Beloved, consider this short devotion a note along your path to remind you that God genuinely cares about you (see 1 Peter 5:7); He is your ever-present help; He is constantly watching over your life – as the psalmist says, The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever. (Psalm 121:8 NLT).

From where does your help come?

From where does your help come, should never be a mystery, for your help, no matter what that help is, comes from God! Amen?

Amen †

 

Shelley Johnson “From where does your help come?” © 2026 August 29, 2026

Different Perspectives

 

In reading the Gospels it’s clear that they, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John all had different perspectives of the same event. And this reminded me of a discussion I had with a dear friend who was adamantly disagreeing with my understanding of a certain passage of Scripture.

The truth is, some people don’t always agree with what I write or say and that’s quite okay with me. Scripture is meant to be discussed. Everyone’s understanding is seldom at the same level so, what you may see is not necessarily what someone else sees and that’s really okay.

In dealing with the biblical, we must take into consideration that people will have different perspectives. We are not all going to be on the same page even if we are on the same page of the bible. And, as I’m sure you know, you can read a chapter today and a year, a month, a week or a day from now, you’ll have a completely different perspective.

The bible is the Living Word of God, it isn’t static, it’s active (see Hebrews 4:12), moving as you move and growing as you grow; it matches your level of understanding. So, when someone’s perspective is different from yours, neither of you should get uptight about that.

Perspectives, like the Living Word, are not fixed; perspectives can change, as 1 Corinthians 13:11 (ERV) states, 

When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, and I made plans like a child. When I became a man, I stopped those childish ways.

The same way you grow up in the flesh, you grow up in the Spirit (see Hebrews 5:12-14). So, even as an adult, depending on your life experiences, your perspectives can change. People react differently to the same exact situation. I’m sure you can relate to that.

Beloved, what’s most important, is having a healthy perspective that’s rooted in the Truth. Your study of God’s Word must be Spirit-led. 

But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. (John 16:13 NASB)

Your perspective from the mountaintop is going to be different from your perspective from the valley.

Amen †

Shelley Johnson “Different Perspectives” © 2026 August 28, 2026

 

 

God or Gold?

Still looking at Genesis chapter 24, we are told that Abraham sent his servant to find a wife for his son Isaac. The servant met Rebekah at a well, when she gave him water to drink, and also watered his camels, that was a sure sign that she was the one.

When she had finished, the man took an expensive gold ring and put it in her nose and put two large gold bracelets on her arms. He said, “Please tell me who your father is. Is there room in his house for my men and me to spend the night? – Genesis 24:22-23 (GNT)

Rebekah could hardly wait to relate to her mother and family, all that had happened at the well. She was highly motivated.

The young woman ran to her mother's house and told the whole story. Now Rebecca had a brother named Laban, and he ran outside to go to the well where Abraham's servant was. Laban had seen the nose ring and the bracelets on his sister's arms and had heard her say what the man had told her. He went to Abraham's servant, who was standing by his camels at the well, and said, “Come home with me. You are a man whom the Lord has blessed. Why are you standing out here? I have a room ready for you in my house, and there is a place for your camels.”  – Genesis 24:28-31 (GNT)

Laban, Rebekah’s brother, could hardly wait to entertain the man who was bearing gifts of gold. He was highly motivated.

Both were highly motivated but for vastly different reasons.

We have already established that Abraham typifies the Father, Isaac the Son, typifies Jesus, the servant, the Spirit and Rebekah, the bride. But who does Laban represent?

Laban, Rebekah’s brother, is symbolic of the world and its way of thinking, with its lust for riches and endless grasping for the material. 

Laban was focused on the gifts of gold and ran to the servant, while Rebekah was focused on the father and the son and ran to give her testimony.

They both had room for the servant but for vastly different reasons.

Too many sitting in congregations today are like Laban, inviting the Servant in only for the gold with no genuine commitment to the Father and the Son.

Rebekah’s heart was turned to the Son; the moment she agreed to a commitment, the Servant showered her with precious gifts of gold.

Laban’s heart was turned to himself; he acknowledged God but never made a genuine commitment yet sought the gold.

Same gift, two vastly different responses.

Beloved, you can be drawn to the Spirit without saying yes to God. How many are sitting in congregations seeking the gold but not saying “yes” to God? Examine your heart. Have you made a genuine commitment? Have you chosen God or gold?

Amen †

Shelley Johnson “God or Gold?” © 2026 August 27, 2026

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pictures

I don’t know about you, but I enjoy looking at pictures. There was a time when people displayed their pictures around their homes – on coffee tables or hung on walls. I loved to pore through photo albums, but these days pictures are stored digitally and even though I still enjoy watching pictures, it does not quite give me that same feeling of nostalgia.

Moving right along…the bible causes us to form pictures in our minds. The Word is written in such a way that when we read these fascinating stories, we experience a picture forming process which allows us to see the characters and the places.

Reading Genesis chapter 24, you would notice that the entire chapter is completely devoted to Abraham’s servant who was sent to find a bride for Isaac, Abraham’s son of promise.

This chapter speaks of four main characters, Abraham, Isaac, the servant and Rebekah. Has a picture formed in your mind?

Abraham is a picture of the Father;

Isaac is a picture of the Son;

The servant is a picture of the Spirit;

And Rebekah is a picture of the Church.

In Genesis 22, we read where God tested Abraham – picture the scene.

Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!”

“Here I am,” he replied.

Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.” (v 1-2 NIV)

After this incredible event, nothing more is said about Isaac, it’s as if he disappeared from the picture but then he reappears in chapter 24, when Abraham sends his servant to find him a bride.

What is this a picture of?

It’s a picture of the ascension of Jesus which occurred forty days after Jesus, the Son, was resurrected (see Acts 1:6-11).

In my first book I told you, Theophilus, about everything Jesus began to do and teach until the day he was taken up to heaven (Acts 1:1-2 NLT)

Though we are left to picture, we aren’t often left to wonder, however, we are definitely left to dig deeper.

You see, after Isaac, the son, is seemingly left out of the picture, he is brought back into the narrative when Abraham, his father, sends his servant, Eliezer to go to my country and to my kindred and get a wife for my son Isaac (Genesis 24:4 NRSVUE).

Similarly, after the Son disappears from view, His Spirit is sent to go and get a bride, the Church, for the Son, Jesus.

Beloved, it is no coincidence that the name of the servant, Eliezer, means “my God is my help”; for who is our Helper?

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name (John 14:26 ESV)

Picture this, when Eliezer encountered Rebekah, her response was “yes” – “yes” to giving him water at the well and “yes” to going with him to Abraham and to Isaac.

They called her and asked her, “Do you want to go with this man now?” Rebekah said, “Yes, I will go.” (Genesis 24:58 ERV)

This is a picture of the bride, that is you, individually and you, collectively as the Church, saying yes to the Spirit to go to the Father and to the Son.

Eliezer asked Rebekah, “Please tell me whose daughter you are. Is there room in your father's house for us…” (Genesis 24:23 ESV) and the Spirit asks each one of us the same question.

To whom do you belong; is there room in your house for them, the Father, the Son and the Spirit?

Amen †

Shelley Johnson “Pictures” © 2026 August 27, 2026

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Bride is at the Well

Have you noticed that three of the most prominent men in the Old Testament found their brides at a well? The brides of Isaac, Abraham’s son, Jacob, Isaac’s son and Abraham’s grandson and Moses, were all at a well when they were found or met directly.

Let’s take a look.

Abraham’s servant found Isaac a bride, Rebekah, at a well (read Genesis 24).

“Today I came to this well and said, ‘Lord, God of my master Abraham, please make my trip successful. I will stand by this well and wait for a young woman to come to get water. Then I will say, “Please give me water from your jar to drink.” The right woman will answer in a special way. She will say, “Drink this water, and I will also get water for your camels.” That way I will know that she is the one the Lord has chosen for my master’s son.’ (Genesis 24:42-44 ERV)

Then Genesis chapter 29 records Jacob meeting his bride Rachel at a well.

Then Jacob went on his journey and came to the land of the people of the east. As he looked, he saw a well in the field…Now as soon as Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother's brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother's brother, Jacob came near and rolled the stone from the well's mouth and watered the flock of Laban his mother's brother. (Genesis 29:1 & 10 ESV)

And Moses, after he’d fled from Egypt to Midian, met his bride Zipporah, at a well.

Moses fled from Pharaoh’s presence and took refuge in the land of Midian, where he sat down by a well. Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters; and they came and drew water [from the well where Moses was resting] and filled the troughs to water their father’s flock…Moses was willing to remain with the man, and he gave Moses his daughter Zipporah [to be his wife]. (Exodus 2:15, 16 & 21 AMP)

These three Old Testament accounts are deliberate in letting us know that the bride is at the well. This is no coincidence, clearly there’s a reason this detail is recorded and so, it must not be overlooked. Three brides for three prominent bridegrooms all encountered at a well.

In the New Testament we find an account of another bridegroom who meets a woman at a well but she is not a bride, for that matter we’re told that she’s had five husbands and the man she’s living with isn’t her husband (see John 4:18), and he is no ordinary groom, for He is the Bridegroom, Jesus.

Is there a connection between those bride encounters of the Old Testament and this of the New? Remember, the Bible accounts are not a haphazard, mishmash of random tales; the Old Testament always correlates with the New Testament.

Jesus doesn’t meet this unnamed woman at any well, He meets her at Jacob’s well. Also, this woman is a Samaritan, she’s not a Jew but of mixed heritage. You see, the Samaritans were a mixture of races between Jews and Gentiles and although they worshiped God, they also served idols.  So, they were not only of mixed ancestry but of mixed religion and even their politics was affected by this mixture as well (read 2 Kings 17).

Because of this, the Jews deemed everything about Samaritans as impure and were prejudiced against them; they were shunned and despised by the Jews – their customs, their religious practices and their food were considered unclean.

This is why the encounter between the Bridegroom and this Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well was remarkable.

Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon. When a Samaritan woman came to draw water (John 4:6-7 NIV)

Jews passing through Samaria – So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar (John 4:5 NIV) – was simply not done.

Jews buying food in Sychar – His disciples had gone into the town to buy food (John 4:8 NIV) – was simply not done.

Jews conversing with Samaritans – Jews do not associate with Samaritans (John 4:9 NIV) – was simply not done.

Jews evangelizing in Samaria was simply not done – Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.” So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. And because of his words many more became believers (John 4:39-41 NIV).

John’s Bridegroom, unlike the other three bridegrooms, did not meet a pure Jewish bride, instead, the bride who is at the well was a mix of Jew and Gentile. Chapter seventeen of second Kings tells us that there were five peoples with whom the Israelites intermarried,

the king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath, and Sepharvaim (2 Kings 17:24 ESV)

This is an illustration of what the Christian church, the bride of Christ, was to become. It began as a congregation of Jewish believers but became a bringing together of a mixture of peoples as the bride.

 In Old Testament times, God’s people were solely the Jews but under the new covenant, Gentiles were grafted in (see Romans 11:11-31).

Notice that the five groups of people brought into Samaria by the king of Assyria, correlates to the Samaritan woman’s five husbands.

Jesus tells the woman to call her husband, she replies that she has no husband, then Jesus says to the woman,

“You are right when you say you have no husband. The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.” (John 4:17-18 NIV)

He was in fact asking her to show Him who has her heart, but she was unable to since her heart was torn, as a Samaritan, her worship was divided (see v 20).

This entire story is focused on the issue of the heart in worship and spiritual confusion.

Jesus assures her that a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” (John 4:23-24 NIV)

Beloved, Jesus is the Bridegroom,  the bride (you) is at the well and Jesus wants to know who has your heart; He is, even now, proposing to you by saying the same thing Abraham’s servant said to Rebekah, “Please give me water from your jar to drink.” 

What is your response? Will you water the flocks? Will you give Him a drink?

Amen †

 

Shelley Johnson “The Bride is at the Well” © 2026 August 25, 2026

 

 

Sound Advice

 

photo courtesy Danae

The older generation of Israelites, after their exodus from Egypt, wandered through the wilderness without entering the Promised Land. Forty years, the lifetime of a generation, had passed so it was the new generation that lived to enter the land of promise. However, before they were allowed to enter, God presented them with laws to live by.

Don’t use weights that are too heavy or too light. Don’t keep measures in your house that are too large or too small. You must use weights and measures that are correct and accurate. Then you will live a long time in the land that the Lord your God is giving you. The Lord your God hates people who cheat with false weights and measures. Yes, he hates all people who do wrong. – Deuteronomy 25:13-16 (ERV)

From this passage of Scripture, it’s clear that human nature hasn’t changed much in all these years.

You’ve been buying the same carton of milk for years at a certain price, then suddenly, you go to the supermarket, pick up the same milk but something seems off, the carton carries the same price, but the box is just a little bit smaller.

The manufacturer has adjusted the size of the carton, but the supermarket hasn’t adjusted the price, so you end up paying more for less.

Store owners are in the habit of having a sale when in fact, they’ve raised the prices of the items before the price “reduction”.

Sadly, changing the size, price, weight, and measurements of items, even food stuff, is a common practice that may be deemed immoral but it’s not illegal.

Humans are prone to being dishonest in financial and business dealings.

Years ago, I worked in real estate and one of my clients said to me. “You’ll never make it in this business, you’re too honest.”

I was not about to become dishonest in order to “make it” in real estate or any other business. I had no intention of benefitting from cheating, lying or short-changing anyone to earn a dollar. I was not going to treat others unfairly just to make a sale.

I have experienced firsthand the dishonesty by buyers, sellers and agents alike and I absolutely refused to follow suit. I refused to carry two kinds of weights or varying measures in my house.

As one translation says, “all who act dishonestly, are abhorrent to the Lord”; I don’t want to be in that category.

Beloved, even we, as Christians, can fall prey to our human instinct to gain an unfair advantage in financial dealings and other business transactions.

Don’t for a moment feel that what God told the younger generation of Israelites in Deuteronomy does not still apply to us today. We should take heed and allow this sound advice to govern our behaviour.

Amen †

Shelley Johnson “Sound Advice” © 2026 August 24, 2026

 

Five Final Songs of Ascent

The hillside must have echoed as the ancient Israelites, together in unity and in perfect harmony, sang fifteen songs of praise and thanksgiving to God, during their ascent to the holy city of Jerusalem.

And with one goal in mind, they sang; despite the weary of every strenuous stride, they sang with one goal in mind; despite the discomfort of every laboured breath, they sang with one goal in mind; despite the pain of every aching muscle, they sang with one goal in mind – to be in the presence of God in His Temple.

We too are ascending toward the eternal Temple to be in the presence of God!

Let’s briefly look at the five final Songs of Ascent…

Psalm 130, is a gut-wrenching cry of repentance: Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord (v 1). Be confident in the redemptive power of God. Be confident that God listens. Be confident that God forgives and wipes the slate of your sin clean forever. Be confident that the pain of the past will not dominate your future. Be confident that no matter how great your sin, God’s grace is greater still!

 Psalm 131, is a deeply meditative reflection on humility: My heart is not proud, Lord, my eyes are not haughty; (v 1). It demonstrates the trust, contentment, dependence and hope that you should have in God to provide, free from a position of prideful arrogance.

Psalm 132, is a song that recalls God’s promises, David’s dedication and the faithfulness of both: he swore to the Lord and vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob; The Lord swore to David a sure oath from which he will not turn back (v 2, 11). Cling to God’s promises, knowing that He is faithful, and trusting that He will fulfil His word in your life.

Psalm 133, celebrates genuine unity between God’s people: Oh, how wonderful, how pleasing it is when God’s people all come together as one (v 1). True unity, camaraderie and harmony among God’s people results in the flow of great blessings, as a whole and as individuals. Genuine togetherness fuelled by love for God and each other, in the community of faith, is vital.

Psalm 134, the final song of the Songs of Ascent, is a song of praise to God: Lift your hands toward the Temple, and praise the Lord. (v 2). Having finally arrived at the Temple after a long and arduous uphill journey, the pilgrims, elated to be in His presence, worship God: Praise the Lord, all his servants who serve in the Temple at night. (v 1). As your journey continues, through the highs and the lows, remember to praise the Lord no matter what happens (ref. Psalm 34:1).

Beloved, your spiritual journey is a reflection of the walk of a pilgrim in the days of old. Every one of the songs in the Songs of Ascent collection, recounts what each pilgrim would have experienced along the way to the holy city high in the hills of Judea.

The journey was filled with challenges, trials, fears, triumphs, hopes and joys as they drew closer to God but no matter what, they persevered. So, let these same songs encourage and inspire you on your journey, just as they were.

Use these cherished Songs of Ascent as your prayers and your songs as you travel this spiritual road of faith, trusting God as the ancient Israelites did, to guide you and sustain you.

And, never forget that God is for you and with you always! He is not distant even when it feels that way, for He promises that He will never fail you, nor will He ever abandon you (ref. Hebrews 13:5).

Rest assured that God’s presence makes every step of your spiritual journey worthwhile.

Amen †

Shelley Johnson “Five Final Songs of Ascent” © 2026 August 21, 2026

 

 

 

Five More Songs of Ascent

 

As the people of God made the arduous climb to Jerusalem for worship, the songs they would sing in praise and thanksgiving to God, were a source of comfort and encouragement.  

These ancient songs spoke directly to the hearts of the people then, and still speak to our hearts today. With every step along this spiritual journey, these beautifully written psalms, through all the changing scenes of life, in trouble and in joy, the praises of my God shall still my heart and tongue employ (hymn lyrics by Nahum Tate and Nicholas Brady).

Let’s briefly look at five more Songs of Ascent…

Psalm 125, assures that those who trust in God remain firmly secure in Him: Just as the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people, both now and forever. (v 2). Stability, security, and victory are promised to those whose trust and faith are rooted in God.

 Psalm 126, celebrates God’s restoration: Restore our fortunes, Lord (v 4). God promises that as you walk in faith, He will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten.

Psalm 127, lets us know that all our efforts are pointless without God: If the Lord does not build the house, the work of the builders is useless; (v 1). Depend on God’s provision and guidance in every area of your life, no matter what you’re building. God is the true Builder!

Psalm 128, highlights the benefits of living life in reverence to God: Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in his ways! (v 1). Living in reverential fear of God and obedience to Him, greatly impacts your life in unexpected and positive ways.

Psalm 129, assures that even in seasons of trial, God is with you: the Lord does what is right; he cut the ropes and set me free from those wicked people. (v 4) God empowers you to endure every challenge and promises that you will not be defeated.

Beloved, remember that God is for you and with you always! He is not distant even when it feels that way, for He promises that He will never fail you, nor will He ever abandon you (ref. Hebrews 13:5).

Know that God’s presence makes every step of your spiritual journey worthwhile.

Amen †

Shelley Johnson “Five More Songs of Ascent” © 2026 August 20, 2026

 

 

 

Five Songs of Ascent

 

Perched on a hilltop, Jerusalem was the centre of worship for those on pilgrimage. God’s people would travel from every part of the country to make the trek to the holy city, singing songs in praise and thanksgiving to God.

Amid painful trials and challenges, these songs encouraged the pilgrims of old to persevere and gave them renewed hope as they endured hardship.

These ancient songs that they sang through their struggles and wearisome uphill journey are called Songs of Ascent and fortunately for us, we have access to those same songs, a collection of fifteen Psalms, from 120 to 134, to encourage us, comfort us, renew our hope and fill us with joy.

Providing spiritual refreshing, these timeless songs still minister to God’s people as we cry out to Him.

Let’s briefly look at the first five Songs of Ascent…

Psalm 120, the first of this special group, is a cry for deliverance: Rescue me, O Lord (v 2). This is the song that begins and sets the tone for the journey.

 Psalm 121, familiar to most, focuses on God’s preservation: The Lord himself watches over you! (v 5). As you face what seems insurmountable, be assured that God is not only with you on your journey but is actively involved in it; His preservation, protection and care do not waver.

Psalm 122, is a heartfelt prayer for peace: Pray for peace (v 6). God’s presence brings peace in the midst of chaos.

Psalm 123, encourages us to keep our eyes fixed on God: keep looking to the Lord our God (v 2). Be patient and trust God’s timing; wait, He is never late.

Psalm 124, celebrates our partnership with God: What if the Lord had not been on our side? (v 1) Remember, God is for you and with you always!

Beloved, God is not distant even when it feels that way, for He promises that He will never fail you, nor will He ever abandon you (ref. Hebrews 13:5). Know that His presence makes every step of your spiritual journey worthwhile.

Amen †

Shelley Johnson “Five Songs of Ascent” © 2026 August 19, 2026

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Whose image and inscription is this?”

 

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. – Genesis 1:26 (ESV)

God created us human beings in His image and after His likeness; but how many of us reflect His image and express His nature? The truth is, we all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). But even more than that, we humans have perpetually created God in our own image and our own likeness. We have made God a reflection of ourselves.

Jesus said to those sent to entrap Him, “give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.” (Matthew 22:21 NLT) but we give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and we give to God what belongs to Caesar when we redefine His image and likeness.

At the Palace of Versailles in Versailles France, there is a long room with a mirror-covered wall from ceiling to floor on one side. It is an incredibly overwhelming sight that assaulted my eyes and scandalously impressive with all its gilded ornamentation, artistic renderings on the ceiling, marble columns, chandeliers and golden statues.

This one room is regarded as an architectural masterpiece, while the entire palace was once considered a symbol of absolute power.

The mirrors reflect the view of a well-watered, cared-for garden which can be seen through large arched windows that stand directly opposite the mirrored wall.

The palace, along with its well-watered, cared-for garden at Versailles are of human creation. God’s Word tells us that you will be like a well-watered garden (Isaiah 58:11), however, this promise carries certain stipulations which you can read for yourself in chapter 58. You and I, as well-watered gardens, are not of our own creation or invention, we are God-stamped, it is he who made us, and we are his (Psalm 100:3 NIV) – we belong to God.

Sadly, we have constructed our own hall with mirrors that reflect, not a well-watered garden but an image of God that has been distorted by our own misguided beliefs, biases, prejudices, excuses, ideas of justice, skewed religious morals and limitations.

We create a false image of God with a likeness that suits our fancy; a god that never takes us out of our comfort zones, a god who approves of all our preferences, a god who is perfectly aligned to us.

We, meaning Christians, have taken the infinite, transcendent, Omniscient, Omnipresent, the Alpha and the Omega Lord God, who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty Creator of the universe and reduced Him to our human level of existence.

“Whose image and inscription is this?” 

In our arrogance, we who claim to be godly followers of the Word, do not know the God of the Bible. We have become religious narcissists who compromise rather than stand firm, choosing to conform rather than transform and in our failure to embrace the full reality of the God of Scripture, we offer to others an image of God who is inscribed with human characteristics.

 Beloved, we have become adept at anthropomorphism; humans crafting God after their own image and nature is not new, for Isaiah responding to a people who had replaced God with idols made in their own image said to them then and us today,

How foolish can you be? He is the Potter, and he is certainly greater than you, the clay! Should the created thing say of the one who made it, “He didn’t make me”?
Does a jar ever say, “The potter who made me is stupid”? (Isaiah 25:16 NLT)

We condemn these ancient people for creating idols of worship, yet in our modern day, when we engage in creating God in our image, we are doing exactly what they did by redefining God into a deity we seek to control and manage, a god who will conform to our way.

They did not have Jesus as we do, so even if we say that they were at a disadvantage, certainly in this day and age, we are not, a fact that Philip learned when he said to Jesus, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” To which Jesus responded, “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. (John 14:8-9 NIV).

When you take a hard look at Jesus, who do you see? You must honestly answer the question, “Whose image and inscription is this?”.

By our creating God in our own image and likeness, we find ourselves at the foot of Mt. Sinai, worshipping a god crafted by our own human hands.

It’s time for us to open our bibles and get to know the God of Scripture in all His glory.

Amen †

 

Shelley Johnson “Whose image and inscription is this?” © 2026 August 18, 2026

 

 

 

 

The function of yeast

Throughout the Word, yeast is mostly symbolic of corruption, evil and sin, however, Jesus portrays yeast in a different light in an effort to get His audience to understand what the Kingdom of God is like. Jesus asked them,

“How can I picture God’s kingdom for you? What kind of story can I use?” – Luke 13:18 (MSG)

First, Jesus uses the tiny mustard seed as an example but then, perhaps to drive home His point, Jesus goes on to give another example. He says,

“What shall I compare the kingdom of God to? It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough.” – Luke 13:20-21 (MSG)

Let’s take a little bite of this parable, like a morsel of bread to chew on.

Luke was very careful in recording Jesus’ words. He was careful in letting us know that Jesus included specific elements in His parable – yeast, a woman preparing dough, and the exact measurement of flour.

The Greek word for yeast in the verse above is “zume” which is sourdough starter and not the packets of cultured yeast we buy in the supermarket.

Creating sourdough starter is a process that Jesus’ first century audience would have understood.

Even today, anyone who has ever made starter should know that all that’s required is flour, water, yeast and time for it to ferment. To initiate the fermentation process, the mixture, in a covered bowl, is put in a warm, dark, breezeless place, such as an oven.

The yeast, a living fungus that feeds on sugar and starch, is the active agent in breadmaking; the dough will never rise without the yeast.

In this translation, Jesus describes a woman mixing sourdough starter into flour to make dough, but the Greek term here translated “mixed” is “en krypto”, which comes from the root verb “to hide” or “to conceal”. So, the woman in the parable, hiding or concealing something rather than merely mixing places a whole different spin on how this parable is viewed, especially as Luke 8:17 (NIV) records Jesus saying,

For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open.

Whatever this woman is hiding, will be revealed, for what is hidden will come to light and although her apparent secrecy may be seen as a “bad” thing, in reference to the Kingdom of God, it is bound to lead to something wonderful.

Sixty pounds of flour is a lot of flour. This woman must have had a bakery because five pounds of flour yields many loaves of bread and she used twelve times that amount.

That amount of dough would be far too much for this one woman to knead and its yield way more than she, alone, could ever consume, so this is definitely not a lesson in domesticity.

This conjures up an image of abundance, doesn’t it? But there is something else, it’s a picture of a small beginning yielding a tremendous result. Jesus tells us what the Kingdom of God is like, using the story of a woman who is about to make more bread than a single person could ever eat.

Is Jesus saying therefore that the Kingdom of God is not only more than enough for everyone to partake of but like the function of yeast, it remains hidden while it works its way through our lives? And even though its not outwardly visible as it quietly spreads, it gives rise to and yields changes in us that are much greater and more palatable than we ever could imagine?

Beloved, the Kingdom of God is present now and available to all, “whosoever will” (ref. Revelation 22:17). Shall you not eat? After all, Jesus Himself proclaimed, “I am the Bread of Life. No one coming to me will ever be hungry again.” (John 6:35 TLB).

Amen †

Shelley Johnson “The function of yeast” © 2026 August 17, 2026